Sadie's 6-Month Picture Sneak Peak

I just loved them all!!!!

Sneak Peak of Clayton's 2yr pics!!

Looking over Daddy's "Operation Enduring Freedom" campaign medal

With Daddy's worn helmet on






Brenda Pardoe did SO good!!!

Clayton's Squeaker Shoes!

One of Clayton's friends has squeaker shoes, and when I raved how adorable it was that every step made a squeak, my friend surprised us with a pair for Clayton's birthday. He literally dances around to make the shoes squeak as much as possible. These are definitely NOT church shoes, but they sure do make all the old people in the store smile. I'll never lose track of Clayton again!!!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

I've been wanting to make my own laundry soap ever since I saw the directions for it! I finally got all my ingredients together! So, today's the day!!! I'm so excited!


Here's the recipe:

1 bar soap (I used Fels-Naptha) $1 per bar online
4 cups hot tap water
1 cup washing soda (not to be confused with baking soda!) $3.99 online
1/2 cup borax (found on just about any laundry aisle) $3.99 Wal-mart

Grate the bar of soap and add to saucepan with 4 cups hot tap water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until it dissolves and is melted.

Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda, and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved.

Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken. This will make a gelled substance.

Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (it will gel, like egg drop soup consistency) This is a low-sudsing soap. If you do not see suds, that is ok. It is not the suds that clean, but the ingredients in the soap. You can also add 1/2 - 1 oz. of an essential/fragrance oil such as citrus, lavender etc.

Makes 10 gallons! (I've been saving my detergent containers for a while now!)

Top load machine: 5/8 cup per load (approx. 180 loads) $.01 per load!
Front load machine: 1/2 cup per load

UPDATE: I LOVE my new soap so far! I don't think I'll EVER buy commercial laundry soap again!

Wrapping up January

Sabrina Stratton & Sadie checkin' out each other's hair-wear! :)

Clayton in his new Thomas shirt he got in the mail (from Florida) from Papa & Nana Tillis for his birthday!!! He loves it!

I wanted to get Clayton in his cousin Cayden's "candle-blowing" picture since my cousin Doug is in all of mine growing up! :)

Sadie falls asleep watching & listening to her beloved Gloworm

"CHEESE!"

Clayton Turns "2" Today!!

Clayton's 2nd year in review...
January-Being dedicated to the Lord

Valentine's Day-February

March-"Driving" his first car

April-Happy Easter

May-chasing the duck at the park

June-He loved swimming in his kiddie pool

July-watching Daddy in the Independence parade

Becoming a BIG BROTHER to Sadie in August!

Feeding goats in September

October-feeding Sadie a bottle with cousin Cayden

Fall Fun in November

Playing in the snow in Decmember

Happy 2nd birthday, Clayton Andrew!

Captivating Talent!!!